Marine propulsion



Dec. 30,1930. J. w. HARVEY 1,786,997

MARINE PROPULSION Filed May 16 1950 2 Sheets-Shet 1 930.- J. w. HARVEY MARINE PROPULSION Filed May 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 30,

JAMES HARVEY, OF FALMOUTH FORESIDE, MAINE MARINE PROPULSION Application filed Kay 16,

My invention relates to means for mounting motors in boats. The customary method of permanently installing motors or engines in boats is to mount the engine upon afoundation fixed in the bottom of the boat and to provide a propeller shaft running longitudinally and passing through stufling boxes in the stern of the boat. Motors of this type are usually quite'heavy and expensive and it is. difficult to install or remove them. The stufling boxes for the propeller shaft also occasion serious difiiculties.

- proposed to install amotor of this Another type of propulsion which has developed extensively or a comparatively small boat is what is commonly termed an outboard motor in which construction the motor frame is suspended or hun from the stern of, the boat and a vertical rive shaft is geared to the propeller. This construction conveniently serves as as well as driving the boat because of' the facility with which the propeller can be turned from side to side. It has also been type in an open well in the bottom of the boat. Such constructions, however, materially weaken aboat and seriously impede or retard the speed of the boat due to the interference with the normal lines of the boat.

The main object of my invention is to provide a construction in which the so-called outboard type of motor can be readily in-.

stalled in the boat in a position which is readily accessible for control and inspection and where the weight of the motor and the. operator will not, rock or tilt the boat into an unnatural position. I have especially sought to provide a convenient means for installing the motor so that it will be possible to obtain a maximum speed of the boat for the power developed by the motor. I have also soughtto provide a construction from which the motor can be demounte'd or removed for the purpose of'inspection, transportation and so {forth I accordingly pro vide in the bottoni of the boat a casing which reinforces the bottom of the boat and is provided with top and bottom plates which serve as bearings for the housing of a vertical motor shaft on the upper end' of which is -the propeller. These platesare connected together in the form 0 a means for steering 1930. Serial No. 452,942.

mounted the motor, and on the lower end preferably a framework which is guided in vertical walls of the casing for the purpose ofinsertion and removal. The. bottom plate entirelycloses the opening in the bottom of the casin and conforms in outline to the bottom of the boat. The protecting skeg mayalso be provided for automatically raising the motor and its propeller. Details of three forms of con-' struction involving my-invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a side view of a boat embodyin my invention; parts being broken away an shown in section to illustrate the mounting of the power unit.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the method of supporting the fpower unit. Fig. 3 is a perspective view 0 the casing constituting the mounting for the power unit.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another modified form of construction. Fig. .6 is a plan view of parts of this IIlOdlfication. I

Fig. 7 is a detail of another modification. The invention is applicable to boats of subbe located at any point desired. The power unit itself is susceptible of embodiment in'any a housing 7 and geared at the lower end to a propeller "8. The casing -9 is preferably formed. of a casting, which is commonly termed marine bronze or' other material having sufiicient strength and resistance to corrosion. This casing is inserted upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the boat so that its upper edge projects aboave the load water line and it has a flange 1'0 wh1ch 1s preferably secured in place by an inner plate 11 and a series of bolts 12 so that the edges of the opening in the bottom of the boat are securely clamped betweenthe flange 10 and the plate 11. The bottom plate 1 4.of the caslng has its edges supported by anunner flange 15. The top or cover 16 of the casing is supported at its. periphery in aggroove 17 inthe top of --suitable form having a vertical shaft within the casing. A bottom plate 14 has a bearing 18 for the sleeve or housing 7 and the upper plate 16 has a bearing 19. These plates 14 and 16 and their bearings are adapted to support the entire weight of the power unit 6.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the bottom plate is formed in two parts secured together by bolts 20 which pass through lugs 21 and the top plate may be similarly formed for convenience in assembly. I also prefer to provide corner bars 22 which connect the upper and lower plates and thus form a framework which is guided in the corners of the casing.

In some motor units the motor exhaust is carried out through the vertical housing 7 and discharged immediately above the propeller. In other cases as herein shown the exhaust is discharged through a pipe 25. To provide for such a construction the top plate 16 has a central rotatable disc 26 through which the pipe 25 extends. The edges of this disc are supported in a bearing 27 so as to permit rotation of the power unit including the exhaust pipe. The exhaust gases may pass out through an outlet 28 in the bottom of the casing or they may be let out through a side outlet 29 to any convenient point.

Ordinarily it will not be necessary to make the bottom plate 14 tight in the casing because the water which leaks into the casing will be automatically sucked out through the discharge outlet 28 as soon as the boat is under way. In some cases the back pressure from the motor will be suflicient to force the water out of the casing.

I It should also be understood that any suitable form of cooling system may be employed for the motor and that this can be supplied with water through the housing in the usual manner.

The power unit may be held in the casing in any suitable manner, as for instance, by means of spring clips 30.

I may also porvide means ly lifting the motor in case the boat passes over an obstruction. For this purpose a skeg 31 is hinged at 32 to the bottom of the boat and adapted at its rear swinging end to engage a lifterplate 33 carried bythe propeller housing 34. A stop 35 may be provided to limit the downward swing of the skeg.

The modified construction shown in Fig. 4 difiers from that preceding in that the top bearing plate is made in sections 40 and 41 joined by hinges 42. Section 41 is hinged to the upper edge of the rear wall of the casing 9' at' 43, and the rear wall 44 of the casing is curved upward and to the rear to form a bearing surface on which the rear edge 45 of the bottom bearing plate can ride during the raising or lowering of the power unit and upon which this edge can rest when the power unit is in its fully retracted position. The radius of the curve in the wall 44 is for automaticalgreater than the distance between the hinges 42 and 43 so thatan upwardly and rearwardly tilting action is produced as the power unit is retracted until it reaches the limit of rearward motion and a position in which it may readily be inspected and repaired. It is possible to submerge the propeller by simply swinging the top portion of the unit forward about the hinge 43 whereupon the bottom portion automatically slides down along the rear wall of the casing-and the bottom bearing-plate automatically takes its proper seat and position.

With this construction, a litter of the type of 31 and lifter plate similar to 33 may be used to automatically retract the power unit in case the lifter strikes an obstruction.

It should be understood that the upper member including the parts 40 and 41 may be of a skelton formation when it is not desired to confine the exhaust gases within the casing and that for convenience of installation in existing boats this type of. easing may be made in sections to be applied from above and below the bottom of the boat and joined within the hull.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the power unit is supported by bearings'carried by top and bottom plates 46 and 47 which are connected by rods 48 and 49. Casing 9" is substantially the same ,as that of the first form. In this construction, however, the top and bottom plates have sections 50 and 51 which are hinged to the casing at 52 and 53 so that they can swing upwardly anddownwardly. These sections are hinged at 54 and 55 to the front edges of the rear portions of the top and bottom plates so that when the power unit is raised the lower part swings about the axis 53 andthe upper part swings about the axis 52 producing an upward and forward tilting action as the power unit is retracted to the position shown dotted in Fig. 5. The

lOU

result is that the power unit is held in posi- I proper seat and position.

With such a construction a lifter 56 hinged at 57 to the bottom of the boat and provided with a stop 58 may engage directly with the bottom of the plate section 51 and automati-- cally retract the propeller and motor in case the lifter strikes an obstruction.

It should be understood that the upper is member including the parts 46 and 50 may be of a skeleton formation 'when it is not desired to confine the exhaust gases within the casing.

Fi 7 shows a modified construction of the s eg which may have an arm 59 exdrive housing 60 as an additional protection for it, and is so proportioned that there is no interference w1th the upward movement of the power, unit.

The size of the casings 9, 9' or 9" depend upon the size of the propeller and the other v parts attached to the shaft housing, the intention being to permit the easy insertion and removal of the power unit without disturbing the casing. i

' By the ,use of'this invention it is possible to employ a very substantial power unit even in a small size boat and still maintain staoccupying more than a minimum of the displacement of the boat. The construction lends itself naturally to installation between bulk heads such-as 36' and 37 where it can be entirely covered by hatches is used not only forcing casing adapted such as 38. The steering gear may have an external wheel 39 above the hatch or the motor can be turned by the use of cables.

and a remote steering gear,

in other constructions.

as ,'s customary While I have particularly innded the invention for a ty ical inboard motor which orforward propulsion but for steering as well, it shou'ld'be understood that the use of a separate rudder might have advantages in some cases. I therefore wish it understood that the claims are to be construed broadly within the spirit of the invention as herein set forth; v

I claim: L x

p 1. A boat having an opening in the bottom, a reinforcing casing extending upwardly through said opening and havinga flange beneath the edge of the opening, means for clamping the flange to the bottom of the boat and a power unit adapted to be insertedinto said casing including a vertical shaft housing and a bottom bearing plate adapted to substantially close the bottom of the casing, said power unit and'bottom plate being removable from said casing.

- 2. A boat attachment comprising a reinto the bottom of a boat and open at the top and bottom, and a.

power unit having a shaft housing with a 1 motor on one end and a propeller on the other end and bearing plates on the shaft housing movabl supported as a unit at and substan: tially c osing the top and bottom of the cas- 3. A boat attachment comprising areinforcing casing adapted to the bottom of a boat and open at the top and bottom, and a power unit having a shaft housing with a motor on one end and a propeller on the other end and bearing plates on the shaft housing movably supported as a unit at and substantially closing the top and bottom' of the casing, one plate havinga rotatable-disc with an opening for a pipe eccentric. to the shaft housing.

a portion at its rear end so disposed that it will move the power unit upwardly.

5. A boat having an opening in the bottom, a reinforcing casing extending upwardly through said opening and having aflange beneath the edge of the opening secured to the bottom of the boat and a power unit adapted to be inserted into said casing including a vertical shaft housing, a bottom bearing plate adapted to substantially close the bottom of the casing and a to bearing frame, said power unit, bottom pliate and bearing frame being removable from said casing.

6. A boat having a casing secured in the bottom and open at the top and bottom, a removable power unit comprising a vertical shaft housing with a horizontal motor lifter bearing late secured to the shaft housingand two caring plates for the top and bottom of the casing, a longitudinal motor lifter hinged to the bottom of the boat ahead of the casing'opening extending to the rear and having a portion at its rear end so disposed that in its upward travel it will raise the motor lifter bearing plate and move the power unit.

7. A boat attachment comprising a casing adapted to the bottom of h boat, a power unit having a frame with abottom plate fitting in said casing, a hinged support connecting the casing and said power unit and a second hinged member connecting said power unit to said casing and acting as a support for an edge of said bottom plate 1n partiall or fully retracted positions.

' 8. A' oat attachment comprising a casing T adapted to the bottom of a boat, a power unit having a frame with a-bottom plate fitting insaid casing, a hinged support connecting the casing and said power unit, said casing having an upwardly and outwardly curved-wall in said casing acting as a support'for the rear edge-of said bottom plate in partially or fully retracted positions, the radius of the curved portion of said casing being greater than the distance between hinge pin centers of said hinged'support connecting the upper edge of said casing and said power unit, so,

that the power unit tiltslongitudina-lly to v the rear as it is lifted in the casing.

9. A boat attachment comprising a casing adapted to thebottom of a boat and open at the top and bottom,- frame with a bottom plate fitting in and closing the bottom opening in said casing and a hinged support connecting the casing and the a power unit having a power unit frame whereby the power unit is tilted asit is raised.

10. A boat attachment as set forth in claim 9 having. a hinged connection for the bottom plate.

11. A boat attachment as set forth in claim- 10 having a longer radius for the hinged connection of the bottom plate so that the power unit tilts longitudinally as it is lifted in the casing.

12. A boat having a casing secured in an opening in the bottom and open at its top and bottom, a removable bottom plate closing the bottom opening, a power unit having a vertical shaft housing supported in the bottom plate and having a propeller removable upwardly therewith through the casing, the bottom plate having a water outlet discharging rearwardly aft the propeller.

- 13. A boat having a casing secured in the bottom and open at the top and bottom, a movable power unit having a bearing frame movable in the casing with a plate removably closing the bottom of the casing and having a water outlet opening in its rear edge, said power unit having a propeller operable forward of said outlet opening.

14. A power boat casing adapted to be secured in the bottom of a boat and open at the top and bottom and a removable power unit comprisin a vertical shaft housing and divided bearing plates clamped on the housing and closing the top and bottom of the casing.

15. A boat attachment comprising a casing open at the top and bottom and a power unit having a propeller. and a supporting frame movably mounted in the casing and having a bottom plate fitting the bottom of the casing, .a member hinged at one end to the casing near the bottom and at the other end to the bottom plate to guide the propeller upwardly and other guiding means for the upper part of the supporting frame.

16. A boat having a casing secured to the I bottom and open at the top and bottom and having a movable bottom plate and a movable top bearing frame, a power unit having an exhaust passage through the top frame, a vertical shaft housing supported in the bottom plate and having a propeller movable upwardly therewith in the casing.

- 17. Aboat attachment comprising a casing adapted to the bottom of a boat, a power unit having a frame with a bottom late fitting in said casing and a hinged mem r connecting the upper edge of the casing and said power unit, said casing having an upwardly and outwardly curved wall to guide the power unit into a tilted position in said casing as it 1s lifted.

JAMES W. HARVEY. 

